Drop-trolley.



No. 892,279. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908,. T. H. MARS.

DROP TROLLEY.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 6.1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

,279. PATENTED JUNE so, 1903.

T.H.MARS. DROP TROLLEY. APPLICATION FILED 001. 5.1906- 3 SHEETS-BEBE! 2.

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i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. MARS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DROP-TROLLEY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. MARS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Drop-Trolleys, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in drop trolleys or trolleymechanisms of that character which automatically release and fall whenthe trolley wheel jumps the trolley wire.

The present invention embodies improve ments upon a similar constructionheretofore invented by me and made the subject of another applicationfiled April 5, 1906, Serial No. 309,964..

Among the salient objects of the present invention are to substitute forthe friction clutch of the former application a positive dogging devicewhich operates to automatically lock the pole against rebounding afterit has fallen; to so construct this dogging device that it performs theadditional function of a stop which arrests the upward movement of thepole at a predetermined angle after it has jumped the trolley wire to soconstruct the toggle lever mechanism that it operates automatically tocarry into and,

out of operative position the dogging device at proper times; to improvethe details of construction of the leverage mechanism whereby sufficientupward tension is maintained upon the trolley pole to prevent it fromreadily jumping the wire in passing under viaducts and the likenotwithstanding it is depressed to an abnormally low angle andnotwithstanding the leverage mechanism is so arranged that throughoutthe principal descent of the pole its effective upward tensiondecreases; to somewhat simplify and strengthen the construction of theparts and at the same time to secure increased reliability and ease ofoperation; and in general to provide an improved construction of thecharacter referred to.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description,reference being had. to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa view showing in side elevation the base end portion of a trolley polemechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 2

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 5, 1906.

' rotatably mounted a turret casting,

Patented June 30, 1908.

Serial No. 337,615.

is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with theparts in that position which they occupy when the pole has jumped thewire, risen to its extreme angle, released, and is about to descend.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates as a whole a suitable basecasting provided with a central upright pivot-stud 2 upon which isdesignated as a whole 3. The turret casting is provided withtransversely opposite alined main pivot studs 4 upon which are mountedthe arms 6, 6, of a main yoke casting 5 which is socketed at its freeend and receives the base end of the trolley pole proper 7. A mainexpansion spring 8 is mounted upon the trolley pole, having one of itsends resting against the end of the socket of the yoke casting 5 andengaging at its opposite end a collar 9 mounted to slide upon the pole.The collar 9 is provided with oppositely disposed studs or ears 10 withwhich are adjustably connected the upper or outer ends of tension links11. These links extend through the ears and may be adjusted as tooperative length by means of collars 12 and lock-nuts 13 mountedthereon.

A second pair of oppositely disposed and alined pivot studs 14 isprovided upon the turret casting, and upon each of these studs ismounted a T-shaped toggle lever 15. The tension links 11 arerespectively connected with the lower ends of the levers 15 by means ofpivots 16. The upper ends of the levers 15 are pivotally connected withtoggle links 17, the lower ends of which are in turn connected withpivot studs 18 upon the yoke casting located some distance from the mainpivots 41 toward the swinging end of the pole. These links 17 areslotted, as indicated at 19, throughout a considerable portion of theirlengths so that the trolley pole may rise through a considerable anglewithout necessarily oscillating the levers 15, as will hereinafterappear. Upon the upper end of the yoke casting at each side thereof arejournaled rollers 20 and the tension links 11 are jointed, as indicatedat 11, and, when the trolley pole approaches its lowermost position, theunder edges of the tension links ongage these rollers and flex thelinks, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

Describing next the controlling and tripping mechanism, upon eaeh of themain pivot studs 4 is pivotally mounted a latch 21, the arm of which isnormally held in a rear- A Lu wardly and upwardly inclined position bymeans of a coiled spring 22 and is limited against upward movementbeyond a definite angle under the tension of said spring by means ofstop shoulders 23. The extremity of each latch arm is provided with anotch 24 which cooperates with a corresponding projection 25 formed uponthe lower end of the corresponding toggle lever 15. In order to forcethe latch arms downwardly to release the toggle levers, a lug 26 isformed or mounted upon the yoke casting at each side thereof in suitableposition to engage a corres p onding tappet stud 27 adj ustably threadedthrough an upstanding arm 28 formed integrally with the correspondinglatch mem ber 21. These parts are so related that the latches will bedisengaged simultaneously and just before the trolley pole reaches itsuppermost limit of movement.

Releasing the levers 15, which it will be understood sustain the tensionof the main spring through the tension links 11, permits them tooscillate so that their lower ends ap- 1 proach the pivot studs 4 ormain axis of the trolley pole. In order to arrest these levers when theyare thus oscillated to a definite angle, crescent-shaped lugs 29 areprovided upon the turret casting at each side thereof in the paths ofthe respective pivots 16 which connect the levers with the tension linksthe levers being shown in this changed position in Fig. 3. The swingingof the toggle levers 15 in the manner described. permits the trolleypole to fall as will be hereinafter described.

As the trolley pole approaches its upper limit of movement after jumpingthe trolley wire, it is important that it be arrested suddenly so as torebound and drop quickly, and before the pole can encounter cross wiresor otherwise damage the line structure. Accordingly I provide one ormore dogging devices (a pair in the present instance) 30 taking the formof pawl arms pivotally mounted.

at their upper ends upon the same studs 20 which carry the rollers 20and extending thence forwardly in position to overlie a stop plate orbar 31 rigidly mounted to extend across the front side of the turretcasting, as seen clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. Each lever 15 has a forwardlyprojecting arm or extension 15 which carries a supporting stud 32 whichin certain positions of the mechanism engages. the under side of thecorresponding dogging pawl and holds these latter free from the stopplate 31. In the position the parts assume when the trolley pole hasbeen released and is about to fall (see Fig. 3) the main body of eachtoggle lever is approximately upright and its arm 15 tilted downwardlyout of range of the corresponding dogging pawl, so that the latter ridesacross the upper edge of the stop plate. At the proper point eachdogging pawl is provided cordingly when the dogging pawls are retractedby the descent of the pole they still ride across the upper edge of thestop plate and at the proper points they are each. provided with one ormore notches 34 which reengage the stop plate and lock the pole againstrebounding.

The chief portion of the descent of the pole is accomplished withoutdisturbing the toggle levers 15, this being permitted by reason of thelost motion connection between the slotted links 17 and said levers.After the pole has been arrested in its descent, the mechanism. isrestored to normal operative position by simply pulling down the polestill further which action through the said links 17 positivelyoscillates the toggle levers until they are reengaged with theirrespective latches 2 1. This change of position of the toggle leverselevates the arms 15 thus lifting the dogging pawls free from the stopplate, so that when the conductor releases the tension on the cord, bymeans of which. he has pulled down the trolley pole, the latter risesunder the tension of the main spring and is adjusted to the trolley wirein the usual manner.

It is important to note that in mechanism constructed as described, theswinging of the normally fixed points of resistance, viz: the lower endsof the toggle levers from their normal position into engagement with thesteps 29, relaxes the tension. on the main spring but veryslightly,merely enough to insure the shifting of the levers from theirnormal position into engagement with the stops 29 when released. Thepole is, however, permitted to drop because these points of resistanceare brought so close to the fulcrum of the pole that the main spring nolonger has sufficient power, acting as it then does under such smallleverage, to hold the pole upright. Moreover, it is to be noted thatduring the descent of the pole the main spring is compressed butslightly until the lost motion in the links 17 is taken up, whereuponthe further descent of the pole is resisted by an abrupt or rapidtensioning action upon the main spring. After the mechanism has beenre-latched, however, it will be noted that during the rising movement ofthe pole there is a constant increase of leverage as the angle betweenthe tension links and the axis of the pole increases so thatnotwithstanding the fact that the spring is slightly expanding theworking pressure of the trolley wheel against the wire increases as thepole ascends higher and higher. This is a feature which it is believedhas not been present in trolley pole mechanisms of the prior art, and itis of distinct advantage inasmuch as it greatly minimizes the liabilityof the trolley jumping the wire under normal conditions.

As the trolley pole approaches a horizontal position, the angle betweenthe tension links and the axis of the pole decreases to such an extentthat the main spring would exert its tension to such disadvantage thatthe trolley pole Would. not have sufficient working pressure to hold itagainst the wire in case of passing underneath viaducts or other pointsWhere the wire is extremely low, were it not for the fact that therollers 20 arrest the approach of the tension links towards a positionin exact alinement with the pole, cause said links to buckle or flex atthe joints 11 and thus prevent a decrease of the ei'l'ective tension ofthe main spring below that point at which the said rollers come intoaction.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a trolley mechanism, the combination with a turret member and apole pivoted thereon to oscillate vertically, of a toggle lever pivotedbetween its ends on said turret member, a main spring, a part actuatedby said main spring, a link connecting the s ringactuated part with thatend of the togg e lever nearer the pivotal axis of the pole, a linkconnecting the other end of said toggle lever with the pole at a pointremoved from the pivotal axis of the latter, a latch with which thetoggle lever is adapted to engage, a tappet member moving with thetrolley ole and adapted to engage the latch and release the togglelever, and a dogging )awl ar ranged to automatically engage and lock thepole against rebounding after it drops.

2. In a trolley mechanism, the combina tion with a turret member and apole pivoted thereon to oscillate vertically, of a toggle lever pivotedbetween its ends on said turret member, a main spring, a part actuatedby said main spring, a link connecting the spring-actuated part withthat end oi the toggle lever nearer the pivotal axis of the pole, a linkconnecting the other end of said toggle lever with the pole at a pointremoved from the pivotal axis of the latter, a latch with which thetoggle lever is adapted to engage, a tappet member moving with thetrolley ole and adapted to engage the latch and reiease the togglelever, a dogging pawl pivotally connected with the pole at a pointremoved from the main axis of the latter, a fixed stop upon the turretmember arranged to cooperate with said dogging pawl, and a part movingwith said toggle lever operating to hold the pawl free from the stopwhen the toggle lever occupies its normal or working position.

3. In a trolley mechanism, the combination with a turret member and apole pivoted thereon to oscillate vertically, of a toggle lever pivotedbetween its ends on said turret member, a main s ringmounted upon thetrolley pole, a coliirr actuated by said main spring, a link connectingthe springactuated collar with that end of the toggle lever nearer thepivotal axis of the pole, a lost motion link connecting the other end ofsaid toggle lever with the pole at a point between the pivotal axis ofthe pole and the springactuated collar thereon, a latch with which thetoggle lever is adapted to engage to hold the main spring tensioned, atappet member moving with the trolley pole and adapted to actuate thelatch to release the toggle lover, a dogging pawl pivotally connectedwith the trolley pole at one end, an extension uoon the toggle leverarranged to sup ort the tree end portion of the dogging paw and a stopmember carried by the turret member with which said dogging pawl isadapted to engage when the toggle lever is in 'unlatched position.

4. In a trolley mechanism, the combination with a turret member and apole pivoted thereon to oscillate vertically, of a toggle lever pivotedbetween its ends on said turret member, a main spring, a part actuatedby said main spring, a link connecting the spring-actuated part withthat end of the toggle lever'nearer the pivotal axis ol'- the pole, alink connecting the other end of said toggle lever with the pole at amint removed 'from the pivotal axis of the latter, a latch with whichthe toggle lever is adapted to engage, a tappet member moving with thetrolley pole and ada )ted to engage the latch and release the togg elever, an arm-like extension projecting l orwardly from said togglelever, a dogging pawl pivotally connected with the trolley pole at apoint remote from the pivotal axis of the latter and at its free endextending above and supported by said extension oi" the toggle lever, astop upon the turret member, a stop projection upon the pawl memberadapted to register with and engage the turret member stop when thetrolley pole reaches its upper limit of movement, and a second stopprojection upon the pawl member adapted to engage the turret member stopwhen the trolley pole has fallen to the point at which it tends torebound.

5. In a trolley mechanism, the combination with a turret member and apole pivoted thereon to oscillate vertically, of a toggle lever pivotedbetween its ends on said turret member, a main spring, a part actuatedby said main spring, a tension link connecting the spring-actuated partwith that end of the toggle lever nearer the pivotal axis of the po e, alost motion link connecting the upper end of said toggle lever with thepole at a point between the pivotal axis of the latter and theconnection therewith of the tension link, a spring-actuated latch memberpivotally mounted concentrically with the pivotal axis of the trolleypole, a tappet member moving with the trolley pole and adapted to engagethe latch and release the toggle lever, a fixed stop upon the turretmember located in the path of movement of the lower end of the togglelever under the action of the main spring when the toggle lever isreleased, a dogging pawl connected with the trolley pole, and a partmoving with said toggle lever arranged to normally support the doggingpawl in inoperative position and operating to bring the pole intooperation when the toggle lever is unlatched and shifted to itsreleasing position.

6. In a drop trolley mechanism, the combination with a turret member anda pole pivoted thereon to oscillate vertically, of a main spring mountedupon the trolley pole at a point remote from said turret member, a

lever mechanism, and a releasing mechan- 7 ism, of a dogging or stoppawl pivotally connected to the trolley pole at a point remote from theturret member, and means associated with the lever mechanism forthrowing the stop pawl into operation to arrest the up ward movement ofthe pole both at its upper limit of movement and at its reboundingpoint.

THOMAS H. MARS. l/Vitnesses:

FRANKLIN H. VVOLRIER, CHARLES J. GOTTSCI-IALK.

